Dwyer's Matt Elam earns playing time for Gators

GAINESVILLE — Safety Matt Elam looked relaxed, loose and a little relieved during an interview after Monday's practice. Must be nice to have a confusing recruiting period in his rearview.

"I'm glad it's over with," the former Dwyer High safety said. "I'm here, it's over with, I'm competing and playing."

Gators fans and even friends were giving up on the recruitment of Elam, an early enrollee freshman with the Florida Gators this spring, after numerous commitment switches between the fall of 2008 and December 2009. He took a high-profile picture in an FSU jersey with the Palm Beach Post shortly after Urban Meyer's job flip-flop in late December.

As if it wasn't confusing enough that Elam had listed West Virginia and Georgia as potential suitors while still committed to UF -- even before his FSU switch that lasted about two weeks.

Elam re-committed to the Gators on Jan. 9 during the Army All-American Game telecast, prompting the interviewer to ask whether Elam was really sure of his decision.

Couldn't blame the question based on Elam's track record. But Elam was sure.

Looking back, Elam said he was simply "trying to make everybody happy except myself."

"I was very confused," Elam said. "I really didn't know what to do. People thought I was playing around, but I really wasn't. I wanted to do what's best for me."

Elam was ready to walk away from Florida when it appeared Meyer would not return to the Gators, but a heart-to-heart phone conversation with the Gators coach cemented his spot in Gainesville.

Elam says he has made the right choice in Florida, which corralled a defensive recruiting class for the ages in 2010. He is one of four five-star recruits ready to crack Florida's lineup as a freshman.

Meyer said Elam has earned valuable playing time in the fall because of his performance this spring.

Without the call from Meyer, Elam would probably be making plays for the rival Seminoles this spring. Elam doesn't know what happened to that FSU jersey he wore in the photo shoot, but he's disgusted by the sight of the picture.

"I start getting sick to my stomach," said Elam about looking at the photo. "I should have never turned my back on a commitment especially to a rival like that."